Fans should get used to DeKalb as a championship destination for at least the next four odd-numbered years. Illinois High School Association executive director Marty Hickman said the agreement calls for NIU and the University of Illinois to serve as alternating hosts over the next eight years.

The alternating arrangement was necessary because, at least for the foreseeable future, Illinois is scheduled to host home football games in odd-numbers years on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Illini hosted Northwestern on Saturday.

Hickman said Illinois State University also was considered as an alternating site, but the IHSA went with DeKalb. While ISU is a more centralized location on the map, Hickman noted that DeKalb was more favorable for many of this year’s teams.

“We looked at the middle of the state, but you have to look where people are coming from,” Hickman noted. “This is more centrally located than you’d think when you’re talking about teams coming here.

“Rochester, SHG and Staunton were as far south as it got. I know this is a haul from Springfield, and we understand that.”

Staunton fans draw praise

While Staunton fell to Sterling Newman Central Catholic 40-13 in Friday’s Class 2A title game, the Bulldogs’ fans didn’t take a back seat to anyone.

Staunton fans earned the Class 2A Spirit Award from the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The award went to one school in each of the eight classes.

“The Staunton fans were unbelievable,” said IHSA executive director Marty Hickman. They were so supportive of the ‘Dogs.’

“It was kind of refreshing. They had a lot of spirit. Even though they got handled (by Newman), their fans handled it great.”

SJO’s Riverton connection

While the Sangamo Conference didn’t have a team in the title games, one Sangamo community had a strong connection to Friday’s Class 3A game between Stillman Valley and St. Joseph-Ogden.

Orion Ciota, a starting junior running and linebacker back for SJO, has two sets of great-grandparents living in Riverton.

According to Riverton resident Judee Ciota, who is Orion’s great-grandmother, Orion is the son of Joie Lee Ciota Sarver. Joie is the daughter of Marcia Moore and the late Mike Ciota, who played for Riverton’s first football team (coached by Jim Kuczek) in 1974. Judee said Mike died in a auto accident in 1999.

Also in Riverton is Frank Ciota, Judee’s husband and Orion’s great-father. Jim and Geneva Moore, Marcia’s parents and Orion’s great-grandparents, also live in Riverton.

Orion rushed for 45 yards and one touchdown in the Spartans’ 43-41 overtime loss to Stillman Valley.

Tolle, Smith worked 8A game

Two State Journal-Register area officials worked Saturday night’s Class 8A title game won by Naperville Central 13-10 over Wilmette Loyola.

Linesman Rick Tolle of Witt and back judge Dan Smith of Gillespie was part of the five-man crew for the 8A game.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Havana has two all-tourney picks

Katie Boyce and Jordyn Hughes of tournament champion Havana were named to the five-player Macomb Lady Bomber Classic All-Tournament first team recently.

Boyce and Hughes led the Ducks to a 5-0 finish in the round-robin tournament. Pleasant Plains, which finished second at 4-1, placed Emily Yakel on the first team.

Plains’ Amber Clouser and Havana’s Elly Bonnett were named to the second team.

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